334/365 Tuesday, November 30th

Building day #2. I clearly remember that this was the turning point day for my emotions. The analogy I used in an email home this night was that the poverty and desperation seem to be in techni colour. The HD techni colour channel I was tuned into on Monday has been changed to a much sadder one. The animals seem smellier, the children's faces seem dirtier, the litter is thicker, the crying seems louder, the bright coloured doors of homes and stores in San Vicente appear dull, the wonderful spanish music softer and the children's laughter quieter.

How can I switch the channel back to the one earlier in the week when I was fresh faced and taking it all in where I only heard the laughter and not the crying, saw the beautiful smiling faces of the children and not the dirt, saw the uniqueness of a pig walking by your feet at lunch or chasing a chicken out of your job site and not the smell and where I felt a little love and elbow grease on end would make all the difference.

a good friend sent this message to me in response and as usual it was the pep talk I needed:

"Maybe it shouldn’t be easy, you know? Maybe you need to see the country as it is to get the full impact of the experience? I don’t really know but it seems to me that it wouldn’t be right to not feel what you are feeling. You might never be able to switch the channel back to the one that was playing on Sunday and Monday. And that’s okay because then you are embracing the country and the people for who and what they are. Today your message is about how we are all the same….humans who do, act, say and feel the same things. It’s just our environment, opportunities and experiences that are different. Perhaps that is the true gift you have received from the El Salvador experience. Listen to me being all philosophical! All I know for sure is that you have all made a difference in the lives of many people this week. And that is something you should be very proud of. "

When I went through my photos tonight I can see that I was searching for anything that would give me hope and lift my spirits - many pictures of the girls playing and laughing.

It was interesting to see how the girls (and boys) would play for hours, running from house to house. The parents didn't worry about where they were, the children didn't need to be told to go outside and enjoy the sun. There is no playstation, tv, movies,facebook etc to derail them from doing what little children should be doing, which is playing loud and free.

a giggly game of tag

~ I LOVE this little girl's expression. We all had such a great time playing ball with these girls. The little girl on the far right (with the pink sleeves) was such a hoot, as she would always fake that she was going to throw the ball to me but would then throw it elsewhere, every single time.

Carmen (the little girl from our house) wearing Scott's safety glasses.

All of the children loved to have their picture taken and also take pictures when they could.

Team Red and our family after the last screw was in.

Scott marked our names down on the window sill, we ran over and took a quick picture and then it was covered up with the window trim but we will always know it is there.

We took the long way home and I was able to capture some random pictures:
love the chickens...The clock tower in San Vicente.

It was heavily damaged in an earthquake and it was just recently re-opened. We were hoping to climb the tower but when we got there the security guard advised there was no entry. You would think this was the end of the story but Pastor Jorge is the man I tell you. One quick cell phone call later, the guard takes a call and presto...gate is open!

180 stairs (all up a dizzy inducing spiral staircase) later, we have a great view of San Vicente.

A nightly excitement for our group was our Texaco trips for Gatorade and ice cream but this night we really got to live on the edge and go to the local grocery store...